Is the Boom in E-Bikes and E-Scooters Ignoring the Risks?
They are likely ubiquitous, whether they are gliding peacefully through rush-hour traffic jams, racing through traffic, or relaxing on street corners like mechanical flamingos. The darlings of micro mobility, e-bikes and e-scooters, have gone from being novel to being essential in record time.
They move quickly. They are practical. They are environmentally friendly (mainly). You are not alone, though, if you have ever rode one and experienced that mixture of slight fear and excitement. The safety of e-bikes and e-scooters is actually beginning to feel like a blinking warning sign that we are not fully recognizing, despite all of their benefits.
A Crazy Trip: How Well-liked Are E-Scooters and E-Bikes?
First, let us look at the statistics.
By 2022? That figure had skyrocketed to one million. The popularity of renting e-scooters has also skyrocketed, partly because app-based firms have made them almost as accessible as going for a coffee run.
However, injuries have increased in tandem with that growth in popularity. We are not talking about skinned knees, either.
A 2024 study that was published in JAMA Network Open examined ER visits made by users of e-bikes, e-scooters, and their more conventional cousins, normal bikes and kick scooters, between 2017 and 2022. We should all be concerned about the results.
What the Data Shows: ER and Micromobility Collide
Approximately three million people visited emergency departments in the United States during a six-year period as a result of injuries associated to Micro mobility The breakdown is as follows:
In contrast, the overall number of injuries from traditional bikes were high but steady at about 2.5 million.
The majority of these wounds were more than minor hand abrasions. Consider serious bruises, brain trauma, concussions, and shattered bones. The majority of injuries occurred in urban locations, probably as a result of increased riders, traffic, and, to be honest, mayhem.
Dangerous Riding Practices
The study also shed light on how rider behavior contributes to the rising number of injuries:
Wearing a helmet? Compared to 52% of traditional bike/scooter users, only 43% of e-riders wore them.
Use of alcohol?
The majority of crashes (83%) happened in cities, where there are extremely narrow margins for error.
What Was Not Included in the Study
Data, of course, can only provide a partial picture. Only those who actually visited the emergency room were included in this study, which represents a small portion of the overall number of crashes. It disregarded:
People with injuries who stayed at home with ice packs and remorse or went to walk-in clinics
Riders colliding with pedestrians
Damage to property, such as broken car mirrors or scuffed lampposts
Most importantly, ride data, like time spent riding or miles traveled, prevents us from accurately comparing safety across modes.
To put it another way, while the numbers are concerning, they are not comprehensive.
How to Ride More Wisely: 10 Practical Safety Advices
Micro Mobility is here to stay. It should not either. However, it must be safer. Here are some strategies to improve your chances:
Put on a helmet. Even for quick rides, yes. In particular, you are more inclined to be casual (read: irresponsible) during short rides.
Start by practicing. Scooters are twitchier than you think, and e-bikes are heavier than they appear. First, try riding in a place with little traffic.
Observe bike lanes. People walk on sidewalks. Roads are for cars. When bike lanes are available, they are your happy middle.
Roll more slowly. An e-bike may reach 30 mph. That is quick enough to do serious harm, particularly if you run into a pothole or are struck by a parked vehicle.
Do not drink and drive. It is risky, against the law, and a fantastic method to see how well your health insurance works.
Ignore the passengers. The majority of micro mobility devices are designed for a single user. You do not wish to conduct an engineering experiment by adding another.
Be defensive when riding. Presume you are invisible to drivers. Suppose you will not be heard by pedestrians. And, like in a computer game, look ahead for danger.
Be observed. It helps, especially after dark, to have lights, luminous clothes, or even a bell.
Raise your voice. Say "on your left!" before you go. It avoids crashes and is courteous.
Become political. Cities with appropriate bike lanes and policies have the safest micro mobility. Speak with the local authorities. Infrastructure is important.
The Wider View: Danger and Gain
Similar to most things that challenge the existing quo, e-scooters and e-bikes provide freedom but come at a cost. They lessen traffic. They reduce emissions. They add a sense of excitement to traveling from point A to point B.
However, that excitement has a price, which we are just now starting to calculate. Even while we can not completely eradicate all threats, we can ride more intelligently, speak out more, and work to create cities that are not simply four-door sedans but are constructed for the future.
Ride the e-bike, then. Get on the scooter. But do it with a helmet that fits, a little more awareness, and a little more planning.
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